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Gallaudet College
In 1864 Abraham Lincoln signed a bill into law creating Gallaudet College, an institution of higher learning serving deaf and hard of hearing people. It became the first choice for the most qualified and diverse group of deaf and hard of hearing students in the world. The creation of this college and the signing of the bill forced the federal government to become involved in special education. -
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education was a supreme court case in which it was ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. It marked a huge milestone in the civil rights movement and helped provide higher and equal education to those who were unjustly left out. This ruling dismissed the “separate-but-equal” statement that many argued, because there was nothing equal about separation based on race.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1siiQelPHbQ -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
The ESEA was enacted by the US Congress as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “War on Poverty”. The president was a former teacher and he believed that to become productive citizens children needed access to equal education. This act led the state & federal government to boost equal education by funding the most disadvantaged children living in poverty. -
PARC v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
In 1971 Thomas K. Gilhool, the attorney who represented PARC (Pennsylvania Association of Retarded Children), filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of 14 children with developmental disabilities. Gilhool argued that denying these children public education violated their rights and was unconstitutional. Prior to this lawsuit children with intellectual disabilities were classified as “uneducable and untrainable” and after this lawsuit, they were guaranteed special, equal, and public education. -
Mills v. Board of Education
Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia extended the impact of PARC to children of all disabilities not just developmental ones. It was brought on behalf of 7 children who had been denied an education because of alleged mental, behavioral, physical, or emotional disabilities. They also argued that their constitutional rights had been violated and it was ruled that no child could be denied a public education regardless of disabilities. -
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA)
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act required all public schools accepting federal funds to provide equal access to education for all disabled children. It required schools to evaluate children with disabilities and create educational plans that as much as possible mirrored the education of non-disabled children. It also allowed more involvement of the parent, like being part of creating the educational plan.
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Honig v. Doe
Honig v. Doe was a case in which the US Supreme Court ruled that schools cannot expel students for behaviors related to their disability. This case was brought about after two disabled students in San Francisco became violent and were subsequently expelled. This was an unfair decision because their disabilities made it difficult for them to control their impulses and anger. After this case, they were allowed to return to school and had individualized educational programs (IEP) created for them. -
Cedar Rapids v. Garret F.
In Cedar Rapids v. Garret F., Garret was a student that required a wheelchair, ventilator, and assistance during the school day for his physical needs. The school district declined to provide these services because they believed it legally was not their responsibility. It was concluded that because of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) students must receive the supplemental services needed to attend school. -
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
The No Child Left Behind Act was the update to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). This act increased the role of the federal government in guaranteeing the quality of education for all the children in the US. There was increased funding for poor school districts, a higher achievement for poor and minority students, and expanding the role of standardized testing in America, along with many other improvements. -
Winkelman v. Parma City School District
In Winkelman v. Parma City School District, Jeff and Sandee Winkelman claimed that the Parma City School District did not provide their autistic son, Jacob, a “free appropriate public education” outlined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The school district planned to put their son in a public elementary school despite the opposition of Jeff and Sandee. The Supreme Court decided that parents may pursue IDEA claims and dispute decisions made on their child's education. -
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed by President Obama as a commitment to equal opportunity for all students. ESSA was a replacement and update to the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) that was enacted in 2002. The No Child Left Behind Act as time went on became increasingly unworkable for schools and educators and because of this they created a better law that more clearly focused on preparing students for successful and prosperous futures.
